Episode 57: Nebraska Education Advocacy: How the 2026 Legislative Session Will Impact Schools with Dr. Mike Dulaney & Tim Heckenlively

2026-01-12

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Send us a textLaws that feel distant in a statehouse become very real in a classroom. We sit down with Dr. Mike Dulaney of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and consultant Tim Heckenlively to map what the new legislative session actually means for students, teachers, and leaders, and how your voice can change it. From a projected $470M budget shortfall to hot-button bills on option enrollment and school surveillance, we walk through the decisions most likely to hit your building and the strategies that...

Send us a text

Laws that feel distant in a statehouse become very real in a classroom. We sit down with Dr. Mike Dulaney of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and consultant Tim Heckenlively to map what the new legislative session actually means for students, teachers, and leaders, and how your voice can change it. From a projected $470M budget shortfall to hot-button bills on option enrollment and school surveillance, we walk through the decisions most likely to hit your building and the strategies that help you influence them.

We dig into school finance pressures and the hard truth that education sits among the largest appropriations, making it vulnerable when revenue dips. Mike and Tim outline why one-size-fits-all mandates fail districts with very different realities, and how to frame a clear, local case for flexibility, especially on complex issues like accepting high‑needs students when services are already at capacity. We also explore a potential shift in retirement rules from a 180‑day to a 120‑day separation, the strong funding status of Nebraska’s plan, and what that means for contributions and staffing.

Safety and privacy take center stage in a thoughtful look at cameras, data governance, and parent expectations. You’ll hear why coalitions among administrators, boards, and teachers drive credibility, and how term-limited senators create urgency around legacy proposals, including culture-war topics likely to resurface. The conversation closes with solutions to the teacher shortage: practical grow‑your‑own pathways that pair content expertise with structured, on‑the‑job training so schools can staff hard‑to‑fill roles without lowering standards.

The throughline is agency. Invite your senator to tour classrooms. Share specific impacts, not abstractions. Keep it civil, local, and actionable. Subscribe for more policy-to-practice conversations, share this with a colleague who cares about schools, and leave a review to help others find these insights. Your story can steer the next vote.

Connect with NCSA (Nebraska Council of School Administrators):

NCSA Website:

NCSA Legislative Website:

Email Dr. Mike Dulaney: mike.dulaney@ncsa.org

Email Tim Heckenlively: tim.heckenlively@ncsa.org

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